Anti-microbial foam dispensing system

ABSTRACT

A portable system for delivering an anti-microbial foam includes a product dispenser for providing an anti-microbial solution. The product dispenser includes a rigid canister that contains the anti-microbial solution and a propellant and a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle. The product dispenser delivers the anti-microbial solution from the dispenser as a foam. The product dispenser may be assembled with a canister holder that can be attached to an object such as a person&#39;s waist belt or clothing. Alternatively, the product dispenser may be assembled with a lanyard to be worn about a person&#39;s neck.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for delivering an anti-microbial foam.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Microbiological pathogens on the hands may be transferred to other body parts such as the mouth, nose and eyes are a primary cause of infectious diseases. Of course pathogens may also be transmitted from the hands of one person to another person and to/from inanimate objects (such as door knobs) to persons. Accordingly, hand antisepsis before and after contact with other persons or dirty objects is crucial to the prevention and transfer of control of microbiological pathogens. Hand hygiene can be improved by using various hand sanitizing fluids. The devices known in the prior art for providing a disinfecting product to the hands of a person may be overly complicated, making them costly. Some of the devices require a person to squeeze or put pressure on the device, which may be difficult for some persons such as those with arthritis.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,012 discloses a dispenser for dispensing an alcohol-glycerine disinfecting gel or liquid. The dispenser has a main housing that mounts a pumping mechanism for pumping out the disinfecting gel from a replaceable, disposable supply cartridge releasably mounted in the main housing. The main housing is small enough to fit into in a person's hand, and the person may dispense the contents by simply squeezing the two parts together. The gel may be applied directly to the same hand that has squeezed the main housing. The dispenser may be worn by the person, such as on a waist belt. However, the device of the present invention does not include a pumping mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,548 is a continuation in part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,012 and requires a particular configuration of a dispenser with respect to a device for securing the dispenser to a person. Again the device has a pumping mechanism and the present invention does not include a pumping mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,617,952 B2 discloses a dispenser for a disinfecting gel. A container of disinfecting gel is attached to a device that is used to squeeze the container and cause the gel to be dispensed from the container. The device is provided with a means of attaching the device to a person's clothing. The present invention does not require a person to squeeze a container.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,020 B2 discloses a wearable fluid dispenser including a reusable holster and a disposable cartridge containing fluid, wherein the cartridge is made of a material having a flexibility higher than the flexibility of the holster, and wherein applying pressure to the cartridge allows dispensing onto the palm of the user's hand by way of increased pressure within the bottle causing the silicone valve to open and gel dispensing downwards. It is believed that a disadvantage of this device is that there is a very high probability that the use of the device will facilitate the transfer of microbes to the users clothing because of the mode of operation requiring a user to reach between his clothing and the device to squeeze the device to dispense the product. The present invention does not require a person to squeeze a container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided in accordance with the present invention a portable system for delivering an anti-microbial foam. The system includes a product dispenser for providing an anti-microbial solution comprising: (a) a rigid canister that contains the anti-microbial solution and a propellant; and (b) a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle, the anti-microbial solution being delivered from the dispenser as a foam. The product dispenser may be assembled with a canister holder having a means for attaching the canister holder to an object such as a person's waist belt or clothing. Alternatively, the product dispenser may be assembled with a lanyard to be worn about a person's neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side view of a rigid canister and nozzle assembly that contains an anti-microbial solution under pressure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is schematic view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1 partly broken away to show the structure located inside the rigid container.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the structure located inside the rigid canister with the nozzle assembly removed.

FIG. 5 is side view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1 assembled with a canister holder that is provided with a clip for attaching the canister holder to clothing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1 assembled with a canister holder that is provided with a clip for attaching the canister holder to clothing.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the canister holder.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the canister holder.

FIG. 9 is a representation of a person with the assembly of a canister holder with the rigid canister and nozzle assembly attached to his clothing using the clip assembly of the canister holder.

FIG. 10 is pictorial view of a lanyard that may be used with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of the lanyard assembled with a hanger cap fixed to the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the hanger cap.

FIG. 13 is a view looking towards the front of a person wearing the lanyard assembled with a hanger cap fixed to the rigid canister of a product dispenser.

FIG. 14 is a view looking towards the side of a person wearing the lanyard assembled with a hanger cap fixed to the rigid canister of a product dispenser.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1 assembled with a canister holder that is provided with a means other than a clip for attaching the canister holder to an object.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the rigid canister and nozzle assembly of FIG. 1 assembled with a canister holder that is provided with a means other than a clip for attaching the canister holder to an object.

FIG. 17 is perspective view of the canister holder of FIGS. 15 and 16 by itself.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the canister holder of FIGS. 15 and 16 by itself.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another canister holder by itself, this canister holder being mountable to an object using threaded fasteners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a side view and an exploded side view of a device 10 for storing and delivering an anti-microbial solution. The device 10 comprises a rigid canister 11 that contains an anti-microbial solution under pressure and nozzle assembly 12 that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13. The rigid canister 11 is made of a metal, preferably aluminum. As used herein and in the claims the term “rigid” is understood to have its common meaning of “stiff, hard, and difficult to bend”. This is in contrast to prior art devices discussed above, wherein a container of an anti-microbial solution must be squeezed or subjected to external pressure to cause the anti-microbial solution to be dispensed. The rigid canister is a hollow cylinder open at a first end 15 and closed at a second end 16. The second end 16 of the canister is concave as shown in FIG. 3; this is done to strengthen the structure of the canister and makes it easier to use up the product in the canister. The nozzle assembly 12 is made of a relatively flexible plastic material having a flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13 and a base portion 14 that is adapted to fit onto a mounting cup disposed 27 at a first end of the rigid canister 11.

Referring next to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown as schematic view of the rigid canister 11 and nozzle assembly 12 of FIG. 1 partly broken away to show the structure located inside the rigid container, and a schematic representation of the structure located inside the rigid canister with the nozzle removed. The basic idea of an aerosol can is that one fluid stored under high pressure, commonly called a propellant, is used to propel another fluid, commonly called a product, out of a can. In the present invention an anti-microbial solution 17, the product, is present in the canister in a liquid state. An exemplary anti-microbial solution useful in the practice of the present invention comprises alcohol, deionized water, self-emulsifying wax NF, sodium benzoate, sodium sesquicarbonate, steareth-2, fragrance, and aloe. In a preferred embodiment the active ingredient of the anti-microbial solution is ethyl alcohol at a concentration of seventy percent. A propellant vapor 29 is located in the headspace between the anti-microbial solution 17 and the mounting cup 27. It is understood that some liquid propellant is disposed in the anti-microbial solution 17. Examples of suitable propellants used in the practice of the present include hydroflourcarbon 152 a, propane, and butane.

The mounting cup 27 is a closure fixed to a second end of the rigid canister 11 with a mounting cup gasket 28 providing a seal between the mounting cup and the canister 11. A stem 21 controls the flow of anti-microbial solution 17 from the canister. A stem gasket 24 extends circumferentially around the stem and is the “on-off” switch of the dispenser. A dip tube 18 extends from the stem with an open end 19 of the dip tube located in the liquid comprising a mixture of anti-microbial solution and propellant. A housing 22 encloses the stem 26, and a spring 23. The housing butts up against the stem gasket 24. The spring 23 urges the valve in a normally closed configuration. Pressure exerted on an actuator 26 via movement of the flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13 of the nozzle assembly 12 by a user moves the stem 21. This breaks the seal between the stem gasket 24 and the stem 21. The stem is thereby exposed to the anti-microbial solution and the propellant in the container, that is to say the valve is open. Pressure inside the container pushes the anti-microbial solution through the valve to the exterior of the canister and into the lumen of the flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13. The narrow nozzle serves to atomize the flowing anti-microbial solution which in the present invention is presented to the user of the device as a foam. That is to say an anti-microbial solution employed in the practice of the present invention is preferably a foaming anti-microbial solution. As used herein and in the claims the term “foam” is understood to have its common meaning of “a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid”. Releasing the actuator, by a user releasing force on the flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13, allows the spring 23 to urge the stem orifice to the sealed configuration, that is to say the valve is closed. The device of the present invention allows a user to experience an advantageous two finger operation of the dispenser, which in itself negates the systems' components from being bacteria carriers. As used herein and in the claims the term “product dispenser” is understood to refer to the assembly of a rigid canister containing an anti-microbial solution under pressure and a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle.

Referring next to FIGS. 5-8 there are presented a side view, a perspective view, a bottom view and an end view of a canister holder 30. In FIGS. 5 and 6 the rigid canister 11 and nozzle assembly 12 of FIG. 1 are attached to a curved surface 45 of the canister holder 30 using resilient brackets 32, 33. A canister holder according to any of the herein disclosed embodiments is preferably made of a suitable plastic material. The resilient brackets 32, 33 can be pushed apart from one another to receive a curved external surface of the rigid canister 11 and then snap back to engage the curved external surface of the rigid canister and retain the rigid canister assembled with the canister holder. The curved surface 45 of the canister holder 30 is complementary to the curved external surface of the rigid canister 11 allowing the two curved surfaces to be adjacent to one another when the rigid canister is assembled with the canister holder. End stops 34, 35 are located at each end of the curved surface 45 of the canister holder to further secure the rigid canister to the canister holder and prevent longitudinal movement of the rigid canister with respect to the canister holder. The relative ease of assembling a product dispenser with a canister holder makes the replacement of a depleted product dispenser with a new, full product dispenser a simple procedure.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 the canister holder 30 is provided with a clip assembly 36 for attaching the canister holder to a waist belt or other item of clothing. The clip assembly 36 is fixed to a side of the canister holder that is not in contact with the rigid canister 11. The clip assembly 36 comprises a pivot pin 41 and spring 40 that fix a clip arm 37 having a clip portion and a handle portion 38 to a surface 31 of the canister holder 30. When a user exerts a force on the handle portion 38 towards the surface 31 of the canister holder 30 the clip arm pivots away from the surface 31 of the canister holder 30. The clip arm 37 is provided with gripping teeth 39. The clip arm 37 rests against a pedestal 42 when the clip assembly is not being used to secure the canister holder to a waist belt or other item of clothing. It is understood that when the clip assembly is used to secure the canister holder to a waist belt, the waist belt may be clamped between the clip arm 37 and the pedestal 42.

FIG. 9 is a representation of a person 100 with the assembly 60 of a canister holder with a rigid canister and nozzle assembly attached to his waist belt or clothing using the clip assembly of the canister holder. The anti-microbial solution delivery system 60 of the present invention allows one-handed operation since a person can simply push the flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13 with a single digit of his hand to transmit a force to the actuator 26 of the pressurized rigid container allowing a foam comprising the anti-microbial solution to pass through the lumen of the flexible actuator toggle nozzle 13 and onto the user's hand. Inasmuch as the rigid canister may be easily separated from the canister holder, a person can easily share the foaming anti-microbial solution with another person. This is not so easily done with the prior art devices discussed above.

FIG. 10 is pictorial view of a lanyard 40 that is an elongated cord having its ends joined with a coupler 41 to form a loop. In FIG. 1 the lanyard is further provided with a slidable device 42 used to adjust the size of a loop provided by the lanyard. FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of the lanyard 40 assembled with a hanger cap 50 that is fixed to the rigid container 11 of a product dispenser. FIG. 12 is a side view of the hanger cap. The hanger cap may comprise a suitable plastic material, such as PVC. A round hollow cylinder portion of the hanger cap allows the closed end of the rigid canister to be inserted though an open end 53 to be retained with the hanger cap in a tight fit with friction. A flat projection 53 of the hanger cap has an orifice 51 through which the lanyard 40 passes.

FIG. 13 is a view looking towards the front of a person 100 wearing the lanyard 40 assembled with a hanger cap 50 fixed to the rigid canister 11 of a product dispenser. FIG. 14 is a view looking towards the side of a person wearing the lanyard 40 assembled with a hanger cap 50 fixed to the rigid canister 11 of a product dispenser. In FIG. 14 the adjustable loop of the lanyard can be seen to provide excess length of the lanyard located behind the neck of the person. The relative ease of assembling a product dispenser with a hanger cap makes the replacement of a depleted product dispenser with a new, full product dispenser a simple procedure. Inasmuch as the rigid canister may be easily separated from the hanger cap, a person can easily share the foaming anti-microbial solution with another person.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a perspective view and a side view of the rigid canister 11 and nozzle assembly 12 of FIG. 1 assembled with a canister holder 80 that is provided with a means other than a clip for attaching the canister holder to an object. FIG. 17 is perspective view of the canister holder 80 of FIGS. 15 and 16 by itself, and FIG. 18 is a plan view of the canister holder of FIGS. 15 and 16 by itself. The canister holder of this embodiment is very similar to the one that was described above with regards to FIGS. 5-8. A product dispenser comprising the rigid canister 11 and nozzle assembly 12 of FIG. 1 are attached to a curved surface 90 of the canister holder 80 using resilient brackets 88, 89. End stops 86, 87 are located at each end of the curved surface 90 of the canister holder 80 to further secure the rigid canister 11 to the canister holder and prevent longitudinal movement of the rigid canister with respect to the canister holder. However, in this embodiment a surface 85 of the canister holder that is opposed to the curved surface 90 of the canister holder is provided with a means other than a clip for attaching the canister holder to an object. For example a magnet 91 may be fixed to the canister holder by any suitable means such as threaded fasteners 92, 93 or a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, an adhesive member may be used in place of a magnet, or even a hook and loop fastening system may be used in place of the magnet. This embodiment of a canister holder facilitates easy storage of a product dispenser in locations such as on a cabinet, a medicine cart, a food serving cart, and so forth. The relative ease of assembling a product dispenser with a canister holder makes the replacement of a depleted product dispenser with a new, full product dispenser a simple procedure. This embodiment of a canister holder promotes the use of the product

FIG. 19 shows an alternative canister holder 100 wherein the canister holder is similar to those described above including resilient brackets 102, 104 to retain a product dispenser adjacent to a curved surface 106 of the canister holder. In this embodiment the canister holder is provided with two or more, preferably three, through holes 108 to accommodate the passage of threaded fasteners 110 through the canister holder. Preferably the through holes are counter sunk to be complimentary to the threaded fasteners so that the heads of the threaded fasteners can be flush with the curved surface 106.

In operation the present invention provides an innovative, portable apparatus that allows users to tote an anti-microbial formula on their person whenever desired, necessary or required. The invention provides an anti-microbial system that can either attach over the head and drape over the chest, or be clipped to a canister holder that may clipped onto a person's clothing or can be attached onto any acceptable surface.

The anti-microbial solution delivery system of the present invention provides an opportunity for users to guard themselves, and others, from carrying, spreading, or subsequently transmitting infectious disease bacteria to others. The composition of the materials used in the foaming anti-microbial solution and the configuration of the storage and delivery system have been be deesigned to further diminish the possibility of transmission of microbes.

The anti-microbial solution delivery system of the present invention allows one-handed operation and is easily affixed to the body, which greatly increases usability and effectiveness by its convenience and accessibility.

The anti-microbial solution delivery system of the present invention reduces and/or eliminates the need for constant hand washing, which when avoided, as it often is, becomes detrimental to proper, and mandatory hygienic protocol in certain harsh, unstable, and vulnerable environments.

The anti-microbial solution delivery system of the present invention has a positive economic impact when numerous contributing factors are considered: for example halting or at least reducing contagious disease spread between staff members; halting or at least reducing contagious disease spread between staff members and clients, customers or patients; reduced sick days for staff members; decreased health insurance costs for initial and extended hospitalization stays.

The anti-microbial solution delivery system of the present invention provides “hands on” ease of use and saves precious time over the progression of each day, which in turn becomes accumulative over the week, month, year etc., which translates into additional fiduciary gains thru improved job productivity. The system facilitates establishing a habit out of a once tedious task, and thus, immensely improves overall sanitary conditions.

It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between. 

1. A product dispenser for providing an anti-microbial solution comprising: (a) a rigid canister that contains the anti-microbial solution and a propellant; and (b) a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle, the anti-microbial solution being delivered from the dispenser as a foam.
 2. The product dispenser of claim 1 wherein the anti-microbial solution includes ethyl alcohol as an active ingredient.
 3. A system for providing an anti-microbial solution comprising: (a) a product dispenser comprising: (i) a rigid canister that contains the anti-microbial solution and a propellant; and (ii) a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle, the anti-microbial solution being delivered from the dispenser as a foam; and (b) a canister holder for assembly with the product dispenser, the canister holder having a curved surface that is complementary to a curved outer surface of the rigid canister allowing the two curved surfaces to be adjacent to one another, and resilient brackets that retain the rigid canister assembled with the canister holder.
 4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises an of end stop located at each end of the curved surface of the canister holder to further secure the rigid canister to the canister holder and prevent longitudinal movement of the rigid canister with respect to the canister holder.
 5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises a means for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 6. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder further comprises a means for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 7. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises a clip.
 8. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder further comprises a clip.
 9. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises a magnet for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 10. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder further comprises a magnet for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 11. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises an adhesive member for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 12. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder further comprises an adhesive member for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 13. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder further comprises a hook and loop fastening system for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 14. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder further comprises a hook and loop fastening system for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 15. The system according to claim 3 wherein the canister holder is provided with two or more through holes to accommodate the passage of threaded fasteners through the canister holder for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 16. The system according to claim 4 wherein the canister holder is provided with two or more through holes to accommodate the passage of threaded fasteners through the canister holder for attaching the canister holder to an object.
 17. A system for providing an anti-microbial solution comprising: (a) a product dispenser comprising: (i) a rigid canister that contains the anti-microbial solution and a propellant; and (ii) a nozzle assembly that includes a flexible actuator toggle nozzle, the anti-microbial solution being delivered from the dispenser as a foam; and (b) a lanyard fixed to a hanger cap, the hanger cap having a round hollow cylinder portion with an open end, a closed end of the rigid canister inserted though the open end of the hanger cap to be retained with the hanger cap in a tight fit with friction.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the lanyard is provided with a means for adjusting the size of a loop formed by a portion of the lanyard that is fixed to the hanger cap. 